Ultra and very high-efficiency solar cells

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for the realization of a photovoltaic solar cell that is able to achieve greater than 50% efficiency and can be manufactured at low cost on a large scale. The apparatus of the present invention is an integrated optical and solar cell design that allows a much broader choice of materials, enabling high efficiency, the removal of many existing cost drivers, and the inclusion of multiple other innovations.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for a photovoltaic solar cell, comprising:
 a collector tile;   a spectral splitter comprising   a first prism   and   a second prism;   a static concentrator; and   at least one of a lateral architecture and vertical architecture using optical interconnects and solar device structures,   wherein the first and second prisms are at an input aperture of the collector tile, the first prism is very highly dispersive prism and second prism is low dispersion prism.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the spectral splitter is configured to divide at least one of light and a solar beam into high energy, mid-energy, and low-energy regions.